They had steak fajitas laid out on cast iron skillets, still sizzlin’, shrimp and chicken tacos stacked up with fresh tortillas, street corn covered in cheese and spices, loaded nachos piled high with everything on ’em, quesadillas cut into triangles, rice and beans on the side, guacamole and chips set out like it was endless, and different salsas sittin’ in bowls that looked homemade.
Everything smelled good as hell.
Renza squeezed my hand as we walked up, and that’s when everybody looked over.
Pressure was leaned back in his chair with Pluto tucked up against him, his arm around her while she rested into him like that was her spot for real. Toni was sittin’ close to Kay’Lo, and he was leaned in, sayin’ somethin’ low to her before kissin’ her neck like it wasn’t nothin’.
I took that in without reactin’, just noticin’ it.
“Look who finally fuckin’ made it,” Pressure said, his tone already jokin’.
“Man, don’t start,” Renza shot back, pullin’ a chair out for me before sittin’ down beside me.
Toni gave me a small smile and a nod. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I replied, keepin’ it simple.
Pluto did the same. “Hey, Reni.”
“Hey.”
I wasn’t overly friendly, but I wasn’t cold either. I just… kept it where it needed to be.
“Do you want something to eat or drink, Reni?” Pluto asked, already glancin’ toward the chefs.
I paused for a second, then nodded. “Yeah, I’ll eat. Thank you.”
She gave a small smile and waved one of them over. “Just let them know what you want.”
I leaned slightly forward, lookin’ over everything again before orderin’ what I wanted, then I sat back while they moved off to fix it.
Renza leaned closer to me. “I thought y’all said y’all was watchin’ the game.”
“That shit been over, nigga,” Pressure said without even lookin’ at him.
“Damn,” Renza muttered. “Ain’t nobody at least text me the damn score?”
“Bitch, you don’t never text me the score,” he replied.
“Fuck you, lil’ boy,” Renza shot back.
They kept goin’ back and forth, jokin’, talkin’ shit, and I just sat there listenin’, takin’ it all in.
The food came out not long after, plates set in front of us and drinks followin’ right behind. I thanked the chef before pickin’ up my fork.
While they talked, I listened to not just what they was sayin’, but how they moved with each other.
Kay’Lo stayed touchin’ Toni like that was second nature. He kept his hand on her leg, leanin’ into her, kissin’ her whenever he felt like it. Pluto stayed right against Pressure, and he kept his arm around her like he wasn’t lettin’ her go nowhere.
I watched all of that without sayin’ nothin’, just takin’ it in while I sat here.
There was no jealousy sittin’ on me, not even a little bit. I was just payin’ attention and noticin’ how they moved with each other like it came natural.
I leaned slightly into Renza, and he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer without even thinkin’ about it, but even with him holdin’ me, I could still feel the difference in how he moved compared to his cousins. It wasn’t that he didn’t touch me or show me attention, because he did, but it wasn’t as open or as natural as what I was watchin’ across the table.
Kay’Lo stayed all over Toni without it lookin’ forced, kissin’ on her, keepin’ his hand on her, talkin’ to her in between everything else like she was always part of the moment. Pressure wasn’t as loud with it, but he kept Pluto close.
With Renza… it felt a little more contained.
